Madhvaon Brahma Sūtra 1.3.27
Dvaita Vedānta
Sūtra
विरोधः कर्मणीति चेन्नानेकप्रतिपत्तेर्दर्शनात्
virodhaḥ karmaṇīti cennānekapratipatterdarśanāt
Sūtra translation
If it be said that there would result the uselessness of the sacrificial acts enjoined in scripture, (if men are said to become gods), 1 no ’ we reply. For, many attained also in the past to the state of being gods, as is seen from Scripture.
It has been said that men themselves become gods, etc., afterwards ; but this cannot be, for if it be held that those who are men become gods, etc., then it follows that there were no gods before, aud the performance of sacrifices, etc., intended for (propitiating) gods could not have been of use, owing to the absence of gods. But this difficulty does not arise, for as scripture says, “ Many attained also in the past to the rank of the gods. They again (who are) of glorious attributes, attained to pure bliss unassailed by miseries, in that world where the gods of old called Sadbyas, such as Brahma, etc., are shining, (i.e., those who attained to final beatitude in the previous Kalpa).”